Queensland to reinvest in national housing research

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The Palaszczuk Government will establish Queensland as a key contributor to a new era in housing and homelessness policies, announcing it re-joins the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute.

Minister for Housing and Public Works Mick de Brenni said Queensland became the only jurisdiction not contributing to the National Housing Research Program (NHRP) prepared by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI), when the funding was stripped by the Newman – Nicholls Government.

“Through the development of the new 10-year Housing Strategy, my department has been working with AHURI and this new funding commitment will ensure we are contributing to and have access to the most up-to-date and informative research available,” Minister de Brenni said.

“If you really want to make a difference you have to have a way to measure the impact you are having.

“We want to invite academics and experts to investigate and interrogate the innovative measures that will be part of our upcoming housing strategy.

“It’s crucial that we chip in our fair share of research funding to make sure that Queensland can be part of this research.

“This funding contribution will also give the Queensland Government the opportunity to help influence research topics, and be provided with further insight into some of the local challenges within the housing market.”

Mr de Brenni said that the return of research funding marked an end to the LNP’s ‘see no evil, hear no evil’ approach to Government.

“The LNP had a miserable approach to housing, treating vulnerable Queenslanders with disdain and preparing the system for privatisation.

“It’s no wonder they didn’t want outside eyes looking in on their plans.

“You don’t measure things when you know they are going to hurt people.

“Unlike the LNP, this government is happy to open ourselves up to the experts and to the rest of the country,” Mr de Brenni said.

The funding announcement comes ahead of this week’s Housing and Homelessness Ministers’ Meeting, where it’s expected the NHRP will be among the discussion items on the agenda.